A VIRAL video of a group of ordinary Zimbabweans toyi-toying against plans to extend presidential term limits has exposed growing panic within Zanu PF after the ruling party called for the arrest of the protesters.
There is a push in Zanu PF to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term of office from 2028 to 2030 in line with the ruling party’s resolution adopted at its annual conference held last October in Bulawayo.
Mnangagwa has said he is a constitutionalist and does not intend to stay beyond hisconstitutionally-mandated term, but 2030ists have been vocal saying the Constitution should be amended so that his term of office is extended.
On Wednesday, Information minister Jenfan Muswere said there was nothing criminal in speaking about the 2030 agenda as Zimbabwe is a democracy.
But a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Zanu PF’s Bulawayo province exposed panic within the ruling party over the ED2030 agenda facing resistance from a cross-section of Zimbabweans after a group of individuals were captured on video toyi-toying against the move.
The flash protest was held in Bulawayo.
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The ruling party is accusing opposition leaders and civil society of inciting people to protest against the proposed term extension.
In a post on X, Zanu PF’s Bulawayo information desk accused the opposition of recruiting youths to protest against the proposed amendment.
“These gatherings are seemingly a response to the Zanu PF resolution to extend President Mnangagwa’s term beyond 2028, but their true intention is to stir emotions against the government and the President,” the post read.
“In 2019, the business sector in Bulawayo suffered significant losses through unsanctioned protests, which led to looting and the burning of shops.”
The post added: “The owners of the houses where the secret gatherings are being held are being warned to desist from allowing such activities to take place at their premises.
“The authorities are cautioning that the law will catch up with them if they continue to facilitate these gatherings, which are aimed at inciting riots against the government.”
Reports said police were studying the video.
National police spokesperson Commissioner Paul Nyathi was not reachable yesterday.
Zanu PF spokesperson Farai Marapira said those who wanted to protest against the ED2030 agenda should do so within the confines of the law.
“Democracy entails people respecting other people’s opinion,” Marapira told NewsDay.
“Those who want the President to continue are expressing their views and they should not be stifled.
“We encourage those who want to protest to do it under the ambit of the law.”
In his statement on Wednesday, Muswere said the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations was pushing a regime change agenda after it urged Mnangagwa to resist calls by his loyalists to have his term of office extended.
MDC leader Douglas Mwonzora yesterday said it was disturbing that the government had taken the path of bullying opposing voices to the ED2030 agenda.
“The church, which is a mirror of society and especially those who are Christians, merely expressed a genuine and legitimate concern,” MDC presidential spokesperson Lloyd Damba said.
“It is a fact that the proposed amendments are self-serving and very selfish, which may lead to civil strife in the country.
“By openly bullying the church, the government is making a clear indication that dissent is a no-go area and will not be tolerated by those in power today.”
Damba said the ED2030 agenda was against popular sentiment.
“The church is right that the country needs a free, fair and credible election that guarantees an election that truly reflects the views of the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.
The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, an umbrella body of several civil society organisations, held a meeting on Wednesday to come up with ways to resist the amendments of the Constitution.
The late former President Robert Mugabe was deposed in 2017 by the military after he failed to manage his succession.